2022-04-28 00:00
Are strategic partnerships real or are we just pretending/hoping they are? By Johanna McDowell Read More
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MarkLives.com showcases great South African design and advertising. See what is emerging from one of the worlds hottest and most creative emerging markets!
2022-04-28 00:00
2022’s slow start to TV viewing that we saw in January and February continued in March. By Richard Lord Read More
2022-04-28 00:00
Submit your work for consideration for our May feature! Read More
2022-04-28 00:00
Our pick for April 2022 is The Legend of Chakalaka Norris – Savanna Chilled Chilli Read More
2022-04-28 00:00
Plus: Appointments at WTSA, Rogerwilco, PMG; KFC's Easter Bucket design; Disney+ for DStv subscribers; SA's One Show finalists Read More
2022-04-21 00:00
The CMO unpacks the brand growth drivers of one of the fastest-growing digital banks in Africa. By Charles Mathews Read More
2022-04-21 00:00
MarkLives catches up with Shaune Jordaan, Hoorah founder and GCEO, on what the deal means for the agency and its future Read More
2022-04-21 00:00
The photographer and director discusses the state of the industry and what it takes to make it. By Veli Ngubane Read More
2022-04-21 00:00
Submit your work for consideration for our May feature! Read More
2022-04-21 00:00
Plus: No Planet B research on ESG; Clio Awards winners and shortlist; and call to enter Effies South Africa Read More
2022-04-14 00:00
Niki Cronje on how marketing leaders should use pandemic-learnt lessons to better serve their communities Read More
2022-04-14 00:00
“We’ve been distanced; must we now be distant, too?” asks Taazima Kala-Essack Read More
2022-04-14 00:00
Which television shows draw the highest advertising rates in South Africa? Read More
2022-04-14 00:00
Plus Ramp buys into Hoorah; appointments at Hoorah, Tiger Brands; new digital PR service; Life Healthcare awards comms biz; Boland merges two papers Read More
2022-04-07 00:00
Marguerite Coetzee asks: How do we know when an observation is deeply meaningful or simply coincidence? Read More
2022-04-07 00:00
New CEO Pete Case is positive about the year ahead and certain that the agency's getting on its front foot again Read More
2022-04-07 00:00
Plus Wonder affiliates with Publicis Groupe; three wins for PR Powerhouse; campaigns from Cape Town Tourism; Hollard, Coronation, Woolies; #NewGenTrends in Marketing Conf; final Capitec give… Read More
2022-04-07 00:00
Grooming is an essential part of cat life. So, too, is it a key role of government to tidy up laws, writes Charlie Stewart Read More
2022-03-31 00:00
This final extract, “In one voice”, focuses on how the bank managed its response to the Viceroy report Read More
2022-03-31 00:00
Zetu Damane on what brands should know about managing influencer scandals Read More
2022-03-31 00:00
Veli Ngubane finds out more about this dynamic, award-winning, serial entrepreneur Read More
2022-03-31 00:00
Plus Bradshaw leaving PnP; appointments at G&G Digital, HLS; JPU makes WARC Creative 100; PMG buys into H&A; NMU awareness campaign; Disney+ SA in May; enter Nando's Hot Young Design… Read More
2022-03-31 00:00
Our pick for March 2022 is Crypto for Volkswagen Easy Finance, and it’s real ‘pavement radio’ Read More
2022-03-24 00:00
Richard Lord considers the impact of DTT and OTT on linear TV viewership Read More
2022-03-24 00:00
This fourth extract, “Social media and making it ‘pop’”, covers the rise of the smartphone and setting up a comms department Read More
2022-03-24 00:00
Plus top appointments at Avatar, Grey, Rapt, Adspace24; Gordhan joins One Club international board; Inverroche appoints lead agency; FMI rebrands; Krispy Kreme kiosks for Checkers; Waarheid… Read More
2022-03-24 00:00
There are many, many reasons why this type of thinking is problematic, writes Leigh Tayler Read More
2022-03-24 00:00
Top strat experts discuss key lessons from 2021, what clients should plan for in 2022, and special areas of interest, reports Carey Finn Read More
2022-03-17 00:00
Adland execs offer their take on the year ahead, expected changes and how to make an impact Read More
2022-03-17 00:00
Masego Motsogi on what we’re likely to see happening in and around the creative industry Read More
2021-11-11 08:01
By Herman Manson. MarkLives takes a closer look at industry bodies and associations for the marketing and advertising sectors. The organisations were invited to detail the number of existing… Read More
2021-11-11 06:00
By Herman Manson. We’ve updated our annual agency revenue rankings to give marketers — and agency execs — an overview of the relative scale of agencies in the South African… Read More
2021-11-04 09:22
By Herman Manson. MarkLives takes a closer look at industry bodies and associations for the marketing and advertising sectors. The organisations were invited to detail number of ex… Read More
2021-09-16 09:00
By Herman Manson. We’ve created a table of independent creative agencies in South Africa, first published in the MarkLives weekly newsletter of 9 September 2021. The information has be… Read More
2021-01-28 08:15
By MarkLives. Recruitment agency, Ad Talent Africa, has released its 2021 salary survey for the communications industry. This annual survey is not intended to be prescriptive but is a report… Read More
2020-10-01 10:04
by Herman Manson. We’ve updated our annual ad agency revenue rankings to give marketers — and agency execs — an overview of the relative scale of advertising agencies in th… Read More
![Q5: In A Remote World, Comms Is King — Browning-de Villiers [interview]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/1242/124247-3618176282.w320.jpg "Q5: In A Remote World, Comms Is King — Browning-de Villiers [interview]")
2020-10-01 10:03
by Carey Finn. Sarah Browning-de Villiers, Machine_ chief content officer, talks about the challenges lockdowns and remote work have posed to communications for companies, and possible solut… Read More
2020-10-01 10:02
by Wendy Shepherd. The worst thing about teaching copywriting was being asked a question I couldn’t answer. There’s only one, as it turns out: what’s a concept? I strung a… Read More
2020-10-01 10:01
by Sizakele Marutlulle. Images aren’t neutral. They are potent, imbued with energy and intention to affect identity and alter behaviour. To think that in 2007 I wrote my MA thesis on t… Read More
2020-09-23 04:00
by Herman Manson. What does it take for the media industry to innovate?
For years, high-profile media brands kept falling out of circulation as business models became unsustainable (cost of… Read More
![Q5: Thomas Kolster On How To Avoid The Hero Trap [interview]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/1242/124247-4140873115.w320.jpg "Q5: Thomas Kolster On How To Avoid The Hero Trap [interview]")
2020-09-23 03:30
by Carey Finn. Known as “Mr Goodvertising”, author and ex-adman Thomas Kolster speaks to us about his new book for brands, The Hero Trap. The Denmark-based creative behind the Go… Read More
2020-09-23 03:00
by Charlie Stewart. The latest social media takedown documentary launched on Netflix in early September 2020 and should be a must-watch for everyone in the marketing sector.
A pithy indictme… Read More
2020-09-23 02:30
by Erna George. Social distancing requirements make connecting with others more challenging and marketing, too, requires more consideration in terms of context and approach. No longer do you… Read More
2020-09-21 07:56
by Herman Manson. The Vodacom Group has confirmed that its integrated through-the-line marketing services business is out to pitch. The incumbent agency, Ogilvy South Africa, was appointed i… Read More
2020-09-17 04:00
by Herman Manson. Most South African creative agencies plan to put in place more flexible work-from-home (WFH) policies as the covid-related lockdown continues to ease and employees have the… Read More
2020-09-17 03:30
by Carey Finn. Anne Dearnaley, PHD Media South Africa CEO, shares insights into powering the South African ad industry through the covid-related crisis.
Q5: What is the biggest challenge fac… Read More
2020-09-17 03:00
by Richard Lord. During August 2020, the South African economy continued to open up as we dropped to level 2 lockdown mid-month. With many more South Africans were back at work, back at scho… Read More
2020-09-17 02:30
by Marguerite Coetzee. Who’d have thought, at the start of this new year and decade, that there’d be a resurgence of past political movements, socially fuelled structural violenc… Read More
2020-09-10 08:27
by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) As South Africa’s transformation project accelerates, MarkLives and HumanInsight have joined forces with the Association for Communication and Advert… Read More
2020-09-09 04:00
by Carey Finn (@carey_finn) When asked what they’re doing to prevent workplace harassment, creative agencies tend to point to carefully worded clauses in their policy books. This is cl… Read More
2020-09-09 03:59
by Herman Manson (@MarkLives) In spite of paper pledges to zero tolerance of sexual abuse and harassment in our industry, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that suggests senior (mos… Read More
![An Accountant In Adland: The Job Of Purpose [S2Â finale]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/1242/124247-2021140144.w320.jpg "An Accountant In Adland: The Job Of Purpose [S2Â finale]")
2020-09-08 03:30
by Siwe Lawrence (@Siwe_Lawrence) About three weeks ago I was watching the 2013 movie, Jobs, with my husband as part of our doccie/biopic Sunday tradition. The movie starred Ashton Kutcher a… Read More
2020-09-07 04:00
by Wendy Shepherd (@thewordshepherd) Right now, it’s a shocking time for employment. If you’re lucky enough to have a job, you not only need to give some fucks about it but the r… Read More
2020-09-07 03:30
by Jason Stewart (@HaveYouHeard_SA) Our relationship with our homes is changing again, shifting from ‘making our homes nice’ to making them the centre of everything we do. This h… Read More
2020-09-04 03:30
by Leigh Tayler (@LeighAnneTayler) WTF aren’t there more CMOs, brand managers and marketers like Fernando Machado, Burger King global chief marketing officer, in the world or, more spe… Read More
2020-09-03 03:30
by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) The world is changing in ways we’ve yet to comprehend. Everything is going to transform. Change has become the only constant. In this type of environ… Read More
2020-09-02 03:30
by Charlie Stewart (@CStewart_ZA) Instead of empowering a powerful — and, frankly, very believable — salesforce of friends, family and colleagues to do more of our work for us, a… Read More
2020-09-01 07:32
by MarkLives (@marklives) WPP is launching design and innovation agency, AKQA, into the South African market through the rebranding of Platform 5, a division of performance marketing agency… Read More
2020-09-01 03:30
by Tom Fels (@thomasfels) Apart from the question of when (and at what cost) this novel coronavirus pandemic will end, there’s another critical one that’s waiting to be answered:… Read More
2020-08-31 04:00
by Veli Ngubane (@TheNduna) Lerato Sengadi (@Leratolicious; IG: @leratolicious1) is a powerhouse with over 15 years in the industry who’s recently been assigned to head up influen… Read More
2020-08-31 03:30
by Martin MacGregor (@MartMacG) The media landscape in 2020 has been a bit like one of those snow globes you see around Christmas time — shaken vigorously and then most of the year for… Read More
2020-08-28 03:30
by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) Transformation is slow. This was the prevailing business logic before the coronavirus altered everything we thought we knew and forced an overnight adaptat… Read More
2020-08-27 04:00
by Johanna McDowell (@jomcdowell) Over the eight days of last month’s 2020 AdForum Worldwide Summit — held virtually for the first time ever — 105 pitch consultants from al… Read More
2020-08-27 03:30
by Craig Hannabus (@crayg) Oh, Facebook, you’ve gone and done it again. You’re changing your UI and have divided the world into distinct groups.
There’s the usual averse-to… Read More
2020-08-26 03:30
by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) The intention of transformation is for it to be wide and far-reaching. Ownership is just one aspect transforming the industry, and the MAC sector still und… Read More
2020-08-25 03:30
by Sasha Kupritz. As the adage goes, “the public relations industry does a terrible job of public relations” couldn’t be more relevant today than ever before; we’re l… Read More
2020-08-24 03:30
by Emma King (@emmainsa) We often say that we value the role that a free and robust media plays in a democracy, yet do we in the PR and comms industry? How do we install that sense of value… Read More
![Q5: Bhekani Bright Ndebele On Making Space For Women’s Sport [interview]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/1242/124247-1244965746.w320.jpg "Q5: Bhekani Bright Ndebele On Making Space For Women’s Sport [interview]")
2020-08-24 03:30
by Carey Finn (@carey_finn) Bhekani Bright Ndebele, Sports Mvt director and head of content, tells us why his digital sports media and entertainment agency is focused on women in sport.
Q5:… Read More
2020-08-21 03:30
by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) While women are increasingly finding better representation in political leadership, economic transformation across the board has stalled.
“Transforme… Read More
2020-08-20 04:00
by Herman Manson (@MarkLives) Sometimes change is scary, but usually it’s exactly what we need. Today, we’re announcing a fundamental shift in our business and publishing format… Read More
2020-08-20 03:30
by Wayne Naidoo (@WNaidoo) Now that we’re at lockdown level 2, the responsibility weighs heavily on everyone in our industry to ensure we implement every possible measure to ensure saf… Read More
2020-08-19 03:30
by Taazima Kala-Essack (@taazimakala) I don’t speak Latin, nor do I have any desire to learn what many may say is a dead language. However, for someone with a true obsession with moder… Read More
2020-08-18 03:30
by Tiffany Markman (@tiffanymarkman) The covid-19 pandemic, a nationwide booze ban (somewhat lifted now), five-degree Joburg mornings, and a massive influx of ‘offers’ from multi… Read More
2020-08-17 04:00
by Lebo Madiba (@Lebonator) Now, more than ever, a new PR agency model is needed as a platform to conceptualise and deliver cohesive campaigns that will guarantee both impact and value. And… Read More
2020-08-17 03:30
by Richard Lord (@rlord182) During July 2020, many more South Africans were able to go about their daily business —out-of-home media owners tell me that traffic levels climbed to 80% o… Read More
2020-08-14 03:30
by Megan Power (@Power_Report) I was a bit smug when alerted to Microsoft Teams’ pre-set video backdrops, or custom backgrounds, which could replace mine when using video. I didn&rsquo&hell…Read More
2020-08-13 07:00
by Herman Manson (@marklives) The covid-19-related hard lockdown in March 2020 and the resultant, ongoing economic crisis have severely impacted the media industry broadly but print media fa… Read More
![#Transformers: Bank Invests In Hope For Brand Transformation [video]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/1242/124247-2835142042.w320.jpg "#Transformers: Bank Invests In Hope For Brand Transformation [video]")
2020-08-13 04:00
by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) Financial services brands struggle to corner the market on consumer trust or to maintain any real, lasting consumer relevance because of service issues and… Read More
![Q5: Meet The Man Behind Muslim Manga, Hamed Nouri [interview]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/1242/124247-364002025.w320.jpg "Q5: Meet The Man Behind Muslim Manga, Hamed Nouri [interview]")
2020-08-13 03:30
by Carey Finn (@carey_finn) Tokyo-based Hamed Nouri, founder of Muslim Manga (@muslimmanga), tells us how he’s using Japanese-style comics to tackle stereotypes regarding Islam, as wel… Read More
2020-08-12 03:30
by Kelly McGillivray (@kelly_jozi) Many businesses have ‘pivoted’ during covid-19 but, for event managers, it’s been more of a Bolshoi Ballet pirouette, including having th… Read More
![MarkLives #AdChamps Of The Month [Aug 2020]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/1242/124247-3652860789.w320.jpg "MarkLives #AdChamps Of The Month [Aug 2020]")
2020-08-11 04:00
by Kyle de Waal & Morgan Botha. Chicken Licken’s back at it, Carling Black Label’s pandemic shopping etiquette, and Acer’s entrepreneurial empowerment —our latest… Read More
2020-08-11 03:30
by Marc Horne (@thisismachine) Here are some cultural shifts I’m anticipating that will represent profound strategic opportunities for brands willing not only to embrace them but to le… Read More
2020-08-07 07:47
by MarkLives (@marklives) Avatar Agency Group holding company, M&N Brands, has acquired a 51% stake in Espresso DBN, an independent Durban-based ad agency. This beefs up Avatar’s D… Read More
![#Transformers: Makura On Disrupting Stereotypes Of Africa [video]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/1242/124247-909311847.w320.jpg "#Transformers: Makura On Disrupting Stereotypes Of Africa [video]")
2020-08-07 03:30
by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) Moky Makura (@mokymakura) of multi-partner collaborative #AfricaNoFilter speaks to MarkLives about the challenge of transforming how brands, marketers, the… Read More
2020-08-06 04:00
by Gillian Rightford (@grightford) I’ve had a number of requests in the past year from global and local CMOs asking the same thing: “Now that we know we need great creative becau… Read More
2020-08-06 03:30
by Warren Moss (@warrenmoss) When events are permitted in future, will large-scale ones be the best way to reach B2B audiences and generate sales?
Before
Pre-covid-19, the B2B marketing worl… Read More
2020-08-05 03:30
by Siwe Lawrence (@Siwe_Lawrence) As much as our partying days are the thing of the past (for now), the glory days of certain ‘life’ hangovers, possibly from our own series of ou… Read More
2020-08-04 08:37
by MarkLives (@marklives) Suhana Gordhan is the new executive creative director at Duke Group, effective 1 September 2020, replacing Mike Beukes who’s relocating to London. One of Sout… Read More
2020-08-04 03:30
by Craig Hannabus (@crayg) There’s been much talk lately regarding data being a currency. It’s a concept that seems sound but I’d like to challenge it.
While we have your a… Read More
2020-08-03 04:00
by Herman Manson (@MarkLives) Conversation LAB, the 55-person, full-service digital marketing agency with roots in Durban and London, has appointed Uyanda Manana as its new managing director… Read More
2020-08-03 03:30
by Carey Finn (@carey_finn) If South African consumers are happy with their online shopping experience, they’re likely to tell their friends and family about it. But this potential bra… Read More
2020-07-31 03:30
by Lebogang Tshetlo & Charles Mathews. Bradlee Holcomb (@BradleeHolcomb; IG: @bradleeholcomb) is in the business of selling human hope. “Every person is unique and, when it comes t… Read More
2020-07-30 04:00
by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) Born and bred in a free, post-colonial Zimbabwe, during the infancy of that country’s democracy project, Larry Khumalo (@statelylarry), Havas Souther… Read More
2020-07-30 03:30
by Martin MacGregor (@MartMacG) The recent MultiChoice announcement that Netflix and Amazon Prime would soon be available to DStv subscribers surprised the market. It shouldn’t have.
F… Read More
2020-07-29 03:30
by MarkLives (@marklives) The hottest primetime shows on DStv, e.tv, SABC 1, SABC 2 and SABC 3 in South Africa revealed: TV ratings for June 2020. Please be aware of this notice regarding th… Read More
2020-07-28 03:30
by Wendy Shepherd (@thewordshepherd) I had a horrible creative director when I was 30. He was famously horrible, and what made him so was his pedantic attention to minute details, his immacu… Read More
2020-07-27 04:00
by Veli Ngubane (@TheNduna) Artist/filmmaker/photographer Justice Mukheli (@justice_mukheli; IG: @justicemukheli) is too humble to brag about his achievements and accolades, so I will… Read More
2020-07-27 03:30
by Taazima Kala-Essack (@taazimakala) The ancient Greek tragedian, Euripides, famously said, “Question everything.” In other words, accept nothing without due reason. Why? Well… Read More
2020-07-24 03:30
by Erna George (@edgeo23) A friend recently sent me the Tom Fishburne cartoon below. I smiled, as the number of times my brave agencies have said this, gotten frustrated by us doing somethin… Read More
2020-07-23 04:00
by Charlie Mathews (@CharlesLeeZA) Technology is transforming marketing faster than ever before, and a slew of new laws and policies are being enforced across the world to govern how markete… Read More
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